THE SEEDS OF UPHEAVAL
-8. The Striking Resemblance

“King Chandravarkar ruled the kingdom of Sangli.  He had a bosom friend in his neighbouring ruler, Satyajit.  Even Chandravarkar’s Queen, Ambala, enjoyed excellent relations with Vasanta, who was the wife of Satyajit.   

Although Chandravarkar led a contended life, he had a grouse and that was he was childless.  Both he and the Queen prayed to the Lord to bless them with a child which was, unfortunately, left unanswered.  On the other hand, Satyajit had a boy who was named Balaveera.  A year after Balaveera was born, Queen Vasanta was expecting another child.  During this time, Satyajit had an idea.  He knew as to how much his friend and Queen Ambala were longing for a child, who would give them the privilege and pride of attaining parenthood.  As he already had a boy, Satyajit thought of giving away his yet-to-be-born second child to Chandravarkar.  He spoke with his Queen in this regard, who agreed to his wish after much deliberation.  They decided to keep this under wraps till the child was born.  Finally, Vasanti gave birth to a cute baby girl and just as they had decided, the couple handed her over to their dear friends, who were over-awed at this gesture.  They effusively thanked Satyajit and Vasanti for this commendable sacrifice.  The child was named Nirmala.

Satyajit tried to keep this event a low-key affair.  He did not want anyone to raise this topic before him for it was a very personal decision and he wanted others to leave it to him and his wife. 

Over the years, owing to frequent interaction the children became very close to one another and even considered each other as brother and sister.  When Balaveera came of age, Satyajit decided to send him for education…..”

After this, King Bhupendra narrated to Aditi the sequence of events that ultimately led to Paramjeet’s tragedy, who was Balaveera in the story.   Thereafter, he concluded, “…..When Balaveera did not recover from his ailment even after some days had passed by, both Satyajit and Vasanta became apprehensive.  Their agitated mind began to entertain such thoughts that the Lord had punished them for giving away their second child, which he had offered them, to their friends.  Thus, he was punishing them by taking away their elder son from them!  As time passed by, this thought assumed more importance in their mind so much so that the King decided to meet Chandravarkar and ask him to return his daughter!  The couple felt that by doing so, they would be able to make up for the mistake which they had committed!   Satyajit was well aware of the grief that would cause his friend and Queen Ambala if he asked them to give back Nirmala, whom they had cared and loved as their own child for ten long years.  Therefore, he was feeling very nervous and uneasy when he spoke with his friend in private in this matter.  Chandravarkar, was apparently, shocked to hear of what Satyajit wanted from him.  He tried to reason out with Satyajit that what he felt was not a fact but found that his friend was adamant.  Grief-stricken, he excused himself and met his Queen who, too, was baffled to hear about this.   After much consideration, they decided to tell the truth to Nirmala about her origin and then decide upon the future course of action, depending upon her reaction after hearing the truth.”  Bhupendra stopped the narration of the story at this juncture and asked Aditi, “My child, I want you to imagine yourself as Nirmala.  Thereby, tell me as to how would you react after learning the truth?  Would you be shattered?  Realising that your real home lies elsewhere, would your love for your foster parents fade away?  Would you go away with King Satyajit as he wants you to do?  What about Balaveera’s tragedy?  How would you react to that?  Aditi, I want you to think carefully about this and give me the answers.  I am in no hurry.  Think about it today and then you can get back to me about this tomorrow.  I just thought of telling you a story which would make you think!  Therefore, I am bringing about a slight change in my story-telling today!” 

Aditi looked at the King sedately, “This is a very sad story, father!” she opined not yet realising that this was the story of her own life!  “This is very much unlike your earlier stories which were so lively.  I will think about the questions you have asked me and give the answers to you tomorrow.”  Aditi, soon, came back to her chambers and was lost in deep thought pondering over every minute detail of the story and thinking her to be Nirmala.  Actually, Aditi had got the answers ready immediately after the King had asked her those questions.  Still, since he had given her time to think over those questions carefully, she did not want to jump upon the answers and wanted to think again.  Soon, Aditi was ready with her answers.  At the time when she was revising the story in her mind, she had realised that there were sequences depicted in it that resembled to that of her life!  Was that only a coincidence?  She had, then, ignored such thoughts for she had to concentrate upon the answers which the King had sought from her.  Now when she was fully equipped with the answers, her mind once again rested on the similarity aspect of the story in her life.  The friendly relations which King Chandravarkar and Satyajit enjoyed in the story, reminded her of the intimate relationship between Bhupendra and Dhuranjaya.  The children, in the story, were treating each other like brother and sister.  That resembled with the relations she had with Paramjeet.  In the story, Balaveera was elder to Nirmala by a year which was exactly the case with her and Paramjeet.  Balaveera had his education at the age of six and even Nirmala started to learn under the guidance of a guru shortly thereafter.  Again, this was similar to the sequence of events in her life!